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Penn State Alumni Association names Dougherty volunteer of the year

May 15, 2014

Penn State Alumni Association names Dougherty volunteer of the year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Architectural engineering graduate Jonathan Dougherty has been named the 2014 recipient of the Penn State Alumni Association's (PSAA) Kay and Ernie Salvino Volunteer of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an individual who has provided exemplary service to the PSAA.

Dougherty has been a member of the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) since 2012. In this capacity, he has: facilitated an annual Affiliate Program Group leaders forum, reviewed student resumes, helped organize the annual PSEAS alumni tailgate and volunteered at regional receptions for students accepted to the College of Engineering.

He is a founding member of the Department of Architectural Engineering's alumni society (ASAE) and has served as its president since 2010. Under his leadership, the group established an early career impact award; a student-alumni mentoring program through which he has mentored four students; and a president's council, which brings architectural engineering student organization leaders and ASAE members together to discuss department, campus and student challenges.

Dougherty has been a member of the Department of Architectural Engineering's Industrial and Professional Advisory Council since 2013 and has served as a senior thesis juror since 2007. He was named an Architectural Engineering Centennial Fellow in 2010.

At Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Dougherty has been an advisory board member since 2004. He also serves as an alumni mentor and guest lecturer, and was the 2013 commencement speaker.

Charles Davis, chancellor of Penn State Wilkes-Barre, lauded, "Jonathan grew up in this community but did not attend this campus as part of his Penn State career. That has not stopped him from serving this campus in multiple capacities through a number of years. He truly takes his desire for student success and acts on it, bringing the Wilkes-Barre campus and all of Penn State to a higher level."

A life member of the PSAA, Dougherty represents the Penn State Club of Wyoming Valley in the Homecoming Parade as "The Button Man," wearing a coat adorned with hundreds of Penn State football buttons dating back to 1972.

In 2013, PSEAS recognized him with the Distinguished Service Award.

Jennifer Theiss, director of alumni relations in the College of Engineering, said, "I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Jonathan and see his passion for his alma mater inspire other volunteers to give back to the university."

Dougherty received his bachelor of architectural engineering degree in 1999 and his doctorate degree in 2006. He is director of the Corporate Knowledge Center for the James G. Davis Construction Corporation in Rockville, Maryland.

Dougherty will receive his award at the PSAA Volunteer Awards Recognition Dinner on Oct. 24.